Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-21
THE RAILROAD BILL.
The Debate Still COntinues-Messrs.
Murphy and Bean Advocate the Pas.
sage OF the Hazen Bill.
CONCORD. Y. H. Sent. 20.


In the House this forenoon the petition of
W. P. Galley and other. Hill, in favor of the
passage of the Hazen bill was presented.
resolution was adopted TO have sessions
this aud tomorrow evening, and to begin
morning sessions tomorrow ard Thursday at
nine O'clock.
The debate on the railroad question was
resumed.
Mr. Murphy of Manchester spoke in oppo
sitioI to the bill.
He denied the report that he had been
offered government position to vote tor the
Hszen bill, although he had applied for q
post office inspectorship. He charged that
foreign contract labor had been imported in
to this state, by George Vaa Dyke, represent
ing syndicate interested in tne construction
OF the Coos railroad, and had in his possession
a copy of the contract made with gentle
man in Canada, under which laborers were
brouzht into this state, to work on the rail-
road at Sl8 per month.
As representative of the Knights of Labor
of New Hampshire, he denied the report
that that organization was being worked by
anybody in the interest of paid retaners.
Referring 10 the bill under consideration,
Mr.. Murphy argued against the admission OF
the great monied monopoly of this State
which would be created by the Hszen bill
There was no denying the fact that If the
Boston & Maine was admittedtp the state the
people would have to share its adversely; il
the road went down, our interests would.
Their plans was one-slded partnership in
which Maine would be the entire gamers, the
people of this state the losers. In the Ess
tern, the st Johnsbury and the Massachus
etts Central, the speculstors who bought
them had great opportunity to enrich them
selves if they could secure the prosperous
Concord. The State of New hampshire
ought not to be an asylum for the owuers of
pauper railroads to come to. The time had
arrived when the State should call halt
aud organize and maintain railroad system
of her own. He WAS opposed to monopoly
and for that reason he should vote for the
indefinite postponement OF the Hazen Dill.
He didn't propose to be coerced into support
ing hat measure by threats that all the Man
chester representatives voung against /,
would be marked men.
Ii had been argued that railroad consoida-
ton would be great thing here because it
had been successful in England. That was
no guide for US. What the people want is
what is desired on the other side of the water,
more home rule BY the passage of the ha-
zen bill the railroads OF the state would be
practically in the hands of an uncomfortable
monopoly What people want is competit-
ion and not monopoly. By the ADOPTION OF the
HaZen bill the inter 81 of Manchester are
turned over to the tenter mercles OF the
corporation. That city is now well served
because of competition and he did not
believe her citizens wanted 1t destroyed lie
believed it dangerous thing to give TO any
body of men control of the railroads OF the
State tor so years.
Mr. Bean of Belmont said that petition
nominally in the interest of the Lake Shore,
but really Tor the Boston & Maine railroad,
had been circulated in his town, and signed
copies of which had been circulated IN the
house. He held the affidavit OF heavy bus
mess man that he signed that petition under
misrepresentation. Nearly ine tenths of the
citizens and four fifths of the business men
of his town were in favor of the Atherton bill
and opposed o The Hazen bill. For this re@-
son he telt it his duty to oppose the designs
of the Boston & Maine to secure control OF
large percentage of the railroads of this
State. He failed to see how people living in
the southeastern or the southwestern sections
would derive anv benefit under the Hszan
| bill. Only those living III the Merrlmac
valley had direct interest in the contemplated
! legislation. He failed to see any advantage
to be gained bv the passage of the Hazen bill
1t would be an unsafe policy to confer upon
any one company the great powers that
would be the inevitable result of this con
solidation. 1t was a notorious fact that here
tofore it had been impossible TO procure leg
islation against the united opposition of the
railroads of this State Create a great mo-
nopoly by passing the Hazen bill and the
power thus given might be used to control
| legislatures. and prove inimical to the inter
ests of the State.